With this the lady's blood began to boil against those men, murderers and profligates. "Let it be so. He must dismiss them. Let him choose me or them. If what you say is true,--and I shall know to-day if it is true,--I shall not forgive them either the shooting or the debauchery. I am alone and a weak orphan, they are an armed crowd; but I do not fear them." "We will help you," said Yuzva. "In God's name," continued Olenka, more and more excited, "let them do what they like, but not here in Lyubich. Let them be as they like,--that is their affair, their necks' answer; but let them not lead away Pan Kmita to debauchery. Shame and disgrace! I thought they were awkward soldiers, but now I see that they are vile traitors, who stain both themselves and him. That's the truth! Wickedness was looking out of their eyes; but I, foolish woman, did not recognize it. Well, I thank you, fathers, for opening my eyes on these Judases. I know what it beseems me to do." "That's it!" said old Kassyan. "Virtue speaks through you, and we will help you." "Do not blame Pan Kmita, for though he has offended against good conduct he is young; and they tempt him, they lead him away, they urge him to license with example, and bring disgrace to his name. This is the condition; as I live, it will not last long." Wrath roused Olenka's heart more and more, and indignation at the comrades of Pan Kmita increased as pain increases in a wound freshly given; for terribly wounded in her were the love special to woman and that trust with which she had given her whole unmixed feeling to Pan Andrei. She was ashamed, for his sake and for her own, and anger and internal shame sought above all guilty parties. The nobles were glad when they saw their colonel's granddaughter so terrible and ready for unyielding war against the disturbers from Orsha. She spoke on with sparkling eyes: "True, they are to blame; and they must leave not only Lyubich, but the whole country-side." "Our heart, we do not blame Pan Kmita," said old Kassyan. "We know that they tempt him. Not through bitterness nor venom against him have we come, but through regret that he keeps near his person revellers. It is evident, of course, that being young he is foolish. Even Pan Hlebovich the starosta was foolish when he was young, but now he keeps us all in order." "And a dog," said the mild old man from Patsuneli, with a voice of emotion,--"if you go with a young one to the field, won't the fool instead of running after the game fall about your feet, begin to play, and tug you by the skirts?" Olenka wanted to say something, but suddenly she burst into tears. "Do not cry," said Yuzva Butrym. "Do not cry, do not cry," repeated the two old men.